Does this work (use of burn and dodge)

[riggy]

Hello

I have started using elements 5 more now to process my pics.

I took this pic of a pied wagtail and to me it appears to be in a "shaft of light"




so I decided to use dodge and burn in elements to make the shaft a more prominent part of the image and make the bird appear to be spotlighted



Any comments on on if this does/doesn't work more than welcome and on if this is a suitable use of the technique. I may have gone a little OTT with the application.

(the pic was sharpened in neat image after the first edit but not the second - both pics are thumbnails)

Thanks in advance

Paul

 

[morleymackam]

Not for me, I prefer the original. It looks a little too unnatural to me but I'm sure it'll be to other's tastes.

 

[AndyWest]

Not me either, sorry. Try burning the whole image or if you can burn the whole image on a different layer then reduce the opacity until it looks ok.

 

[SpikeK6]

not for me just looks too unnatural